Junior scholastics: from the primaries to the presidency election 2006.

The President of the United States is said to be the most powerful person in the world. No wonder so many people want the job. Although Election 2008 is more than a year away, several candidates are already preparing to run for the White House.

Why so early? To be "taken seriously," a candidate must raise at least $100 million by the end of 2007, says Michael Toner, Chairman of the Federal Election Commission.

The high cost of campaigning means that candidates from the two major parties, Democratic and Republican, are often the only real contenders. One individual from each party will emerge as a frontrunner during state primary elections. The primary season begins in January 2008.

For the first time since 1928, no incumbent President or Vice President will be seeking the office. This is also the first time that a woman or an African-American has a good chance of becoming President.

Top potential Democratic candidates include Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. Among Republicans, John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani seem to be top prospects.

Whoever is elected will face tough issues--at home and abroad. We asked members of our JS Student Advisory Board to tell you why the issues now being debated matter to teens.